Heatwaves are often called the silent killer
Extreme heat rarely appears as a direct cause of death on certificates, forcing health officials to use complex statistical models to track its toll.
Medical experts often refer to extreme heat as the silent killer because its impact on human mortality is frequently indirect. When temperatures soar, the body's blood vessels dilate to shed heat, which lowers blood pressure and forces the heart to pump faster and harder. For individuals with pre-existing conditions, this physiological stress significantly increases the risk of heart attacks, rhythm disturbances, and heart failure.
Continue Reading in App
2 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz